GrowFL, ACG Florida and the Edward Lowe Foundation named E3 Spark Plugs in their inaugural list of 50 “Florida Companies to Watch.” The list recognizes Florida companies that are flourishing despite the nation’s financial downturn and helping to buoy Florida’s economy.

‘Firms like these named ‘Companies to Watch’ continue to be the catalyst that is fueling Florida’s emergence from a turbulent national economy,” said Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

Each of the privately held companies employs up to 99 workers and reports between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or capital. Their combined impact is $419 million in total annual revenue and 1,972 full-time equivalent employees. For the five year period 2006-2010, the companies generated a combined $1.4 billion in revenue and hired 1,153 new employees in and outside of Florida. This reflects a 162 percent increase in revenue and a 141 percent increase in jobs for the five year period; a 32 percent revenue growth and 28 percent annual growth in employment annually.

The “Florida Companies to Companies to Watch” program was developed by the Michigan-based Edward Lowe Foundation, which supports entrepreneurship with a focus on second-stage companies. Funding support comes from the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. Sponsors include: The Florida High Tech Corridor Council; the Florida Business Incubation Association; Fowler White Boggs; the University of Central Florida; the University of South Florida; the Osceola County Economic Development Department; Nperspective; and Gulf Power Co.

E3 Spark Plugs is proud to be recognized among Florida’s most enterprising young companies. We set out to develop a simple way to make America’s vehicles run cleaner, stronger and more economically. And we knew we were onto something when the Environmental Protection Agency recognized our product, with its patented DiamondFire technology, as the only spark plug considered a “supplemental emissions control device.”

Many thanks go out to the evaluators who chose E3 Spark Plugs to be included on the list, and to our customers who care enough about the environment to try something new. We hope you’ll join us for the “Florida Companies to Watch” awards celebration February 17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.